there's a storm in her eyes

Sky felt the need to put her hands up a second before the crash, so she ended up placing them on the other person’s upper arms. in consequence she dropped her book, which she’d been reading as she walked, but all of this didn’t matter to her when she saw who it was. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She said with a smile, brushing some of her hair back, the book forgotten on the floor. “I’m glad to have, quite literally, ran into you.” 

Some of the tension and anger in her dissipated when she saw who she was in front of, not to mention who was currently holding her biceps. “Oh.” The tiny words was said with a breath, a small smile gracing her lips. “At least you’re all in one piece.” Astrid allowed herself a few moments to stare at the other blonde before leaning down to pick up the book. “I think this is yours.”

Shenzi could not remember the last time that she started her day with a jog around the block and now that she finally did that anything, she questioned why she ever stopped. As she was about to turn into a corner, someone from the opposite direction was coming towards her and lucky for the two of them, she was able to move out of the way before they would collide. “Mhm but are you? Because anyone who runs like that usually has a lot going on in their head.”

“I’m alright,” she said, take a few deep breaths to level her breathing. After a few, she placed her hands on her hip and nodded. “Don’t we all have a lot going on in our heads here?” Astrid glanced around the street. “I can’t be the only one running to clear my head, can I?”

Shock looked up from her phone with a groan. “I’ve been better.” She replied, not sure why this girl was talking to her. She’d been to busy text-fighting her boss to notice their almost collision. “Why?” She asked a little suspiciously. 

She stared at the other for a moment before gesturing behind her. “I almost just plowed you down while I was running.” Astrid dropped her hands to her side and chuckled, a bit sarcastically. “You seriously didn’t notice?”

“Y-yes.” Atticus said in a broken voice as his elbow pressed on the side of his hip– his cellphone barely hanging on to dear life between them; he thought he was paying attention to the street and had a mildly respectable grasp on it. He grasped the device with his free hand and, once he didn’t feel like he was about to spit his heart out of his chest, breathed out in relief. “Could’ve been worse.” Atty finally locked eyes with the girl, putting his phone away in his jeans before embarrassment took him over. “Sorry, I wasn’t– you? Are you alright?”

Astrid shrugged, watching him struggle with the phone before he finally looked up at her again. “Yeah, I’m fine. No broken bones or bruised egos here.” Her head tilted to one side. “Though I’m not sure the same can be said for you. You sure you’re okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Tessa had been lost, once more, in the music blaring in her ears through her headphones. She was popping some bubble gum, lost in her phone, taking a stroll through the town. She didn’t have a particular destination, though the sudden rumble in her stomach led her to believe her feet her were taking her towards food, regardless she walked as if she had a purpose. Things were currently going well for Tessa. Her sister was back, no sign of Gadget, and she could feel inspiration for a new project slowly coming. About the only negative thing, she could think that recently happened was just smacking Peter in the face, accidentally. Still, if that were the worst-case scenario for her, then she would happily take what life was currently dishing at her. She had been just about to look up from her phone, but before she could, she felt the sudden gust of wind brush past her, which made her stumble sideways in shock. 

“Woah!” She quickly took her headphones out, turning around to see if the person was still there or just running away. “I’m sorry, what? I couldn’t hear if you asked something or not.” She gave a sheepish smile, holding up her phone and headphones, “Sorry. Are you okay?” She offered an apologetic smile now, mentally noting that she needed to stop daydreaming and start paying attention to her surroundings. “I didn’t throw off your mojo, did I?”

Astrid took a moment to level her breath, her eyes studying the other girl as she apologized. It was a curious thing, to apologize when she wasn’t even the one at fault, so it took her a bit off guard. She stared at the other with her hands on her hips before shaking her head. “Nah, I’m good--just figured I’d need to apologize for nearly knocking you over during my run.” There was another beat before she realized her music was still blaring through her own headphones, so she tapped her smart watch to turn it off. “Actually, I’m heading down the street to get a smoothie as ending destination for my run. How about I buy you one for nearly ‘throwing you off your mojo’?” The words were a bit teasing, but Astrid was afraid the meaning would be lost between trying to catch her breath, so she flashed a crooked smile.

“I don’t know, maybe I will. But I don’t really see how wieldin’ an axe is gonna help me durin’ deer season.” He let go of the arrow and muttered under his breath when the wind caught it. “But I can see ya reasonin’ behind it - it’s kinda like when m’brother would wear ankle weights while trainin’ so that he’d be stronger on his feet durin’ the season.”

She stepped back as he got himself lined up for the shot, only to chuckle when he started muttering. “I told you, training with a heavy weapon teaches you control. You’ll stop focusing on your target and start focusing on how you handle the weapon. It stops stuff like that--” Astrid gestured to the arrow-- “from happening.”

Trusty whistled as the arrow was let loose, impressed with Astrid’s accuracy. “Can’t say I’ve ever done more with an axe than choppin’ up firewood for the winter but that sounds awesome.” He took back the bow with a raised brow. “Scotland, huh? What made ya come here?” He loaded the bow with another arrow and took aim.

“It’s fun, you should try it sometime,” she said with a smirk. “Plus, you’d be surprised how much control a weapon like that can teach you. Certainly helps with your control on a bow and arrow. Anything lighter than an axe won’t be a problem. You sure you’re so scared of an axe now? Maybe you should look into training with one.”

Sky considered this. Her dad wasn’t exactly the visiting type either, except that one time he’d been touring Florid with his band. “Well… if they’re not the visiting type you can always visit home instead, right?” She finally asked curiously. That’s what she’d try to do every year or couple of years at least. She also tried to contact her mom sometimes but the dead were fickle. She kept very still as she felt Astrid’s fingers moving on her hair, her smile widening into a grin that she hoped didn’t make her seem too eager. “Oh, I see. That doesn’t sound very appealing. I mean getting to visit home does, but not the rest.” She let out a huff. “Why would it be? You’re strong, intelligent and clearly capable of working hard and leading.” The blonde moved a hand to pat one of Astrid’s before pulling it back. “Yeah… i get it. I won’t get to go home this winter break, my dad’s on tour so there’d be no one to see there. Except the staff but… I barely know any of them at this point.”

Astrid focused on the braid for a moment, wondering if it’d really be worth it to go home and visit for the holidays. She was lost in thought, but was quickly pulled from it when Sky’s hand brushed her own. Her breath hitched just slightly, her hands pausing. Her mind drifted to the drunken kiss they had shared a while back, and how they’d never really brought it up and had simply fallen into an easy routine of movie nights and practically napping on each other. “Hey,” Astrid said quickly, hoping she didn’t lose her nerve. “Would you like to come home with me for the Holidays? You just said you won’t get to go home and I think I’ll go out of my mind if I have to go home for the first time in three years by myself.”

Trusty nodded his approval but still took a few steps back. “Axe? What in the world could you be doin’ runnin’ ‘round with an axe? That’s a ‘lil more scary than me bein’ out here in the middle of no where with a bow.” He chuckled.

“It was my weapon of choice when i started training,” she said with a shrug and a small chuckle. After a beat, she steadied herself and aimed for the target, releasing the arrow. “I mean, a bow and arrow is great and all, but there’s more strength behind an axe and it was more fun to learn.” Astrid held the bow out to him while she admired her handiwork. “I don’t train with it here. It’s easier when I was back in Scotland since there weren’t as many people.”

“Don’t worry ma’am, I know what I’m doin’ and I’ve got the license to prove it.” He grinned and handed over the bow. “Ever shot one of these ‘fore? No offense but if the answer is no then I wanna get a ‘lil further back.”

She shot him a glare as he called her ‘ma’am’ but she didn’t comment on it. Instead, she just chuckled. “I don’t doubt that,” Astrid said honestly. “I’m more of a traditional bow kind of gal, but I’m not unfamiliar with a compound.” She took the bow from him and prepped it. “But, then again, I’m also more of an axe kind of gal too.”

“It’s deer season back in Texas but I’m stuck with this.” Trusty motioned to the dummy-deer target he’d set up forty yards away. Holding up his compound bow he grinned at the other. “Wanna give it a try? It ain’t near as excitin’ as actually huntin’, but it’s fun enough.”

“I’ve gotta be honest. When I saw someone out here with a compound bow, I was a little worried.” Astrid looked around at the open field, untucking her hands from her pockets and shrugging. “Why the hell not? I’ve got nothing better to do yet, hand me that bow.”

“Oh.” Sky wasn’t sure what else to say, she hadn’t heard much about Astrid’s family up until now and she was a little curious but she didn’t want to pry. She let her eyes flutter shut and back open a couple of times. “Are they coming to visit you soon or something like that?” She asked, hoping it was open enough for her not to feel pressured by the question. She smiled, staying close to her and trying not to snuggle even closer. “That makes sense, you do have a lot of hair too. Sure. I would love that.”

She sighed, thinking back to the text she’d gotten from her dad. “My parents aren’t exactly the visiting type,” Astrid said with a slight roll of her eyes at the mere thought of her family flying down to see her. Moving just slightly so she could begin braiding the other’s hair, her hands working as she spoke without a filter. “They want me to go home for Christmas--Four years and it’s the first time I don’t want to go back. You know, my town has this unbearable need to ask me if I’ve found a new job? They think my dream of being a police chief is unrealistic.” She finished brushing her fingers through Sky’s hair and began the plait. Even if she was a bit shocked at how comfortable she was around Sky, she didn’t stop herself. “It doesn’t exactly make me eager to go home for the holidays.”

Sky smiled, her groggy eyes moving to stare at the table with the half-finished beverages and snacks, her left hand moving to softly rub at her eyes and then trailing back down, her fingers carefully grazing Astrid’s side as they went. “But it’s true, isn’t it? The sound of rain is special.” She supressed a yawn, moving to follow the phone’s flight as it landed on the other side. “Nothing important?” She asked dreamily, snuggling a little closer at the feeling of fingers running through her hair. “I don’t think I’ve ever had my hair braided, honestly.” Sky mumbled, shifting her face to look up at her. “I don’t know how to do it, and my dad basically only asked me to comb from time to time.”

“Yeah, I guess it kind of is.” She chuckled, the sound more breath than a laugh, before her eyes landed on the phone again. “Nah, just from my family.” Astrid was a bit surprised as Sky moved closer, but she didn’t dare say anything for fear the other would move away. The thought made her hold her breath for a moment before she said, “I learned at a young age that it was the best way to keep your hair out of your face while training...May I?” She combed her fingers through Sky’s hair once more, brushing it away from her face.

Sky’s eyes opened wide for a second, as she felt Astrid’s hand on her hair, but she stayed very steal. Releasing a soft breath, she let her eyes flutter again, her arm moving to rest beside the other’s leg as she slowly snuggled a little closer to her. “I know, rain always makes me sleepy. The sound of it… It’s like a song the earth sings just for us.” She whispered, her voice faltering at the last words as she held back a yawn.

She was quiet for a moment, her head tilted back and her eyes closed as she brushed Sky’s hair. Once she registered what the other had said, she let out a breathy laugh. “Only you could describe it that nicely.” The sound of a text caused her to wake up just enough to check her phone and make sure she wasn’t being called in to work. Astrid tossed her phone back onto the other side of the couch before leaning back and combing through the other’s hair again. “Oh,” she breathed out once she realized what she was doing. Her hand stopped moving through her hair and she looked down. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with braided hair.”

Sky somehow she felt more relaxed now than she did almost every morning when doing her yoga routine. She and Astrid had been watching old movies for a good while now, the popcorn bowl abandoned on the coffee table along with the empty glasses. As time passed, they’d gotten more cozy and also closer, now her head was half leaning against the couch and half leaning against the other’s shoulder and she didn’t want to move even an inch away. “I think it’s raining outside, I hear the little drops falling.” She commented in a soft voice.

@kickas-trid

She’d stretched out on the couch as soon as they started binge watching the movies, but it was hours later now and both the popcorn and drinks were nearly empty. Astrid had one arm draped over the back of the couch, but it had slowly moved on to Sky’s shoulder as the other blonde leaned into her and her own eyes became heavy. “Hmmm...” She hummed in response, her arm bending and her hand resting on top of the other’s head. “That explains why I’m so tired.” Without thinking, her hand moved, gently combing Sky’s hair back as her own eyes closed.